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PubMed1989

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Greece.

Unique population data on the incidence of hypertension during pregnancy was obtained during the 1983 Greek National Perinatal Survey. Of the 9915 women delivering in April who had their blood pressures measured during pregnancy, only 3.0% had a diastolic pressure of over 90 mmHg. The data can be compared with 11.6% of 15,744 women delivering in the United Kingdom in one week of April 1970 and for whom data on antepartum blood pressures were available (p less than 0.0001). Corresponding rates for proteinuric pre-eclampsia were 0.7 and 3.1% (p less than 0.0001). In Greece, there was no consistent variation with parity but a strong trend with advancing maternal age. The perinatal mortality rate among pregnancies with diastolic pressures of 91 mmHg and more was 6%, three times the national rate. Such cross-cultural comparisons of hypertension in pregnancy form a valuable basis on which to develop hypotheses to explain the aetiology of this condition.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Total selenium concentration in tap and bottled drinking water and coastal waters of Greece.

The total selenium concentration in various waters from all over Greece was determined fluorimetrically. The concentration in most of the drinking water, either from the tap or bottled, was within the range 100-200 ng l-1 and showed no great seasonal fluctuations. Most Greeks receive 0.2-0.4 micrograms selenium per day from drinking water. Coastal surface water contains 100-250 ng Se l-1, while higher concentrations are found at locations regarded as polluted.

Geography↗

PubMed1989

The radioactivity of coloured rain in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The radioactivity of coloured rain precipitated over Thessaloniki, Greece, on 4-5 April 1988 was determined. The long-lived fission product radionuclides such as 137Cs, 134Cs, 144Ce, 106Ru and 125Sb were identified in dust originating from the Sahara desert which was precipitated with the rain to produce coloured rain. Caesium-137 concentrations reached 1000 Bq kg-1, resulting in a deposition of 3.03 Bq m-2, which is four orders of magnitude lower than measured on 5-6 May 1986 after the Chernobyl reactor accident.

Air Pollution, Radioactive↗

PubMed1989

The propagation of the Chernobyl 131I impulse through the air- grass- animal- milk pathway in northwestern Greece.

A three-compartment (air- grass-milk) milk contamination model for 131I has been applied to atmospheric, grass and milk data, following the April 1986 nuclear accident at Chernobyl. Samples of ovine and bovine milk collected daily by a large dairy company in Ioannina (northwestern Greece), throughout the month of May 1986 have been employed. The contamination impulse in the area, which provides the input to the model, has been approximated by a first order gamma-variate curve. Transfer rates and decay constants have been extracted by fitting predictions of the model independently to each set of data (air, grass and milk). All model parameters obtained from more than one set of data show remarkable consistency. These parameters are used to calculate the transfer coefficients fm for the transport of radioiodine at equilibrium for sheep and cows.

Accidents↗

PubMed1989

Heavy metal pollution induced by a ferro-nickel smelting plant in Greece.

Seven heavy metals, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn, were measured in marine sediments, plants and invertebrates in the vicinity of a ferro-nickel smelting plant in Greece. The concentrations of metals in the sediment were higher than those found in the average unpolluted Greek coastal sediment. High levels of metals were observed in the gastropod molluscs, particularly Cerithium vulgatum, which concentrated metals more than other invertebrates.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Trace metals in sediments of a Mediterranean estuary affected by human activities (Acheloos river estuary, Greece).

Trace metals were studied in the sediments of the ecologically, economically and scientifically important estuary of the Acheloos river, in western Greece. Human activities (dams, agriculture, traffic, etc.) influence the estuarine system of Acheloos and in combination with the hydrological, mineralogical and morphological characteristics of the estuary affect the chemical behaviour and the distribution patterns of trace metals in its sediments. The large scale disturbance of the system is imminent in the near future as it is planned to divert approximately 50% of the river water. A study of the distribution patterns of trace metals revealed that in the estuary there are zones with different metal levels. The concentrations of most metals (Al, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn) are elevated in three of these zones (upstream, sill, seawards). A different behaviour was observed for Mn due to its association with carbonates that were observed in significant concentrations throughout the estuarine zone. A sequential extraction procedure, applied to the sediments, indicated low percentages of easily exchangeable metals, increased mobility of Cu and Zn and increased association of Ni, Cr and Fe with the aluminosilicate lattice. Although the river is not considered to be heavily polluted, some metals have shown an enrichment in the surface sediments as a result of general anthropogenic activities not derived from point sources.

Aluminum↗

PubMed1996

Concentration and bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticide residues in herons and their prey in wetlands of Thermaikos Gulf, Macedonia, Greece.

Concentrations of the principal organochlorine insecticides were determined in eggs and freshly dead chicks of the Squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) and Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), as well as in frogs (Rana sp.), the main heron prey. Material was collected from the wetlands of the Thermaikos Gulf (Macedonia, northern Greece) in 1992 and 1993. Residues of the organochlorine pesticides alpha-BHC, beta-BHC, lindane, 4,4'-DDD, 4,4'-DDE, heptachlor and dieldrin were found in the eggs, chicks and prey of the herons. alpha-BHC, beta-BHC, and lindane had highest concentration in the Night Heron and lowest in the Little Egret. In all samples examined, the bioconcentration factors (BCF) of these compounds had very high values. BCF of pollutants for the eggs of the Squacco Heron were at lower levels than those of its chicks. BCF for frogs were in almost all cases lower than those for the other samples. Biomagnification factor (BMF) for 4,4'-DDE and beta-BHC had the highest values of all other compounds (except in the Night Heron). BMF for the eggs of the Squacco Heron were greater than for its chicks. Variation in the pesticide contents in the different heron species is attributed to different feeding habits; the exception being the occurrence of dieldrin in eggs only and 4,4'-DDE as a remnant of past spraying. Amounts of pesticides detected in this study are too low to affect eggshell thickness in the Squacco Heron or have other effects on the wildlife of the area.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

The epizootiology of caprine herpesvirus (BHV-6) infections in goat populations in Greece.

Previous preliminary studies had shown that caprine herpesvirus (BHV-6) infections exist in many countries where goats play an economical role. The extensive serum survey made in Greece reveals that the virus must be widespread because more than 50% of the goats have antibodies. The bucks were found to have a higher evidence of infections than the female goats. The kids possessing maternal antibodies became seronegative at the age of 4 months and new antibodies appeared at the age of 7-8 months. Observations in 2 closed goat herds showed that the virus does not spread during the mating and lactating period. Neutralization titres increased or new infections in seronegative animals occurred after the summer when breeding took place. The virus is present in a latent state and recurrent infections are assumed to occur. In spite of that all our efforts to isolate the virus were unsuccessful, even after experimental immunosuppression.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1995

Health services financing in Greece: a role for private health insurance.

Private health insurance can play a significant role in the financing and delivery of health services in relatively undeveloped health systems which suffer from limited public expenditures, resource shortages, and quality of care problems. Research results, however, indicate that private health insurance in Greece has not yet assumed that role. The rapid increase of private health insurance was the result of underfinancing by the public sector and restrictive policies for the private sector. The private sector, however, largely financed by private health insurance, found alternative investment and profit opportunities, which, unfortunately, did not improve health system microeconomic efficiency. In this paper we propose that a way of cooperation could exist between the public sector and private health insurance, which would improve public health services provision and the overall technical, allocative and dynamic efficiency of the health system.

Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMed1991

Public knowledge of thalassemia in Greece and current concepts of the social status of the thalassemic patients.

Current concepts with regard to the social integration of the thalassemia patient worldwide require further evaluation. In this work we have investigated the concepts of the average citizen of continental Greece and Crete about the problem of thalassemia, his awareness of the basic characteristics of the disease and his attitudes towards some 'life-style' parameters of the thalassemic sufferer. We used the method of stratified random sampling and interviewed 3500 people aged 15-65 years. We carried out multivariate statistical analysis of responses to the items on thalassemia in relation to sex, age, educational level, place of residence and marital status. The results of this survey show that education was the factor with the greatest influence on the likelihood of being aware of thalassemia and of having accurate knowledge of the basic features of the disease. There was also a general effect of age with the highest awareness and the best knowledge being found in those aged 21-44 years, while place of residence was a significant factor for two items. The features known best were that thalassemia is non-infectious, that it calls for blood transfusion, and is inherited. Education had the strongest influence on the probability that a person holds the attitude that the sufferer from thalassemia can play a normal role in society as regards working and having a family, as well as generally living a normal life and, in the case of thalassemic children, playing and going to school. The attitude that thalassemics should work instead of receiving a state benefit depended on education, age and place of residence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Maternal mobility and infant mortality in Greece: a regional analysis.

The paper is an attempt to analyse the pattern of cross-boundary flows to maternity clinics. The question is whether the expectations of expectant mothers who often travel long distances in order to give birth can be (i) explained by the lack of adequate levels of care in the out-flow areas, and (ii) justified in terms of birth outcomes. Infant mortality is used as a measure of the effectiveness of medical care. The results show that maternal mobility is indeed the result of inadequate provision of services. However, regional variations in infant mortality do not relate to availability of medical care. Mortality rates among infants born in the areas with net outflow of births are lower than the national average, while better-equipped areas experience higher infant mortality rates. Moreover, expectant mothers that move to Athens and Salonica (the main receiving areas) from the net outflow areas seem to face worst survival chances for their babies than those who stay. The nature of data does not permit control for risk factors and obstetric histories. However, it is argued that the sheer scale of maternal mobility and infant mortality differentials revealed in the paper imply that the possibility that moving itself significantly increases the risk of infant mortality should be looked at more carefully. The paper recommends the introduction of health policy initiatives in provincial Greece, aimed at increasing availability, improving standards and restoring public confidence to locally available medical services. The standards of care in maternity clinics should also be subject to audit mechanisms. It is finally necessary that maternal mobility is confined to cases for which good medical reasons exist.

Female↗

PubMed1996

Abortion policy and practice in Greece.

Despite its illegality until recently, abortion is estimated to have been responsible for almost half of the sharp postwar decline in the Greek birth rate. This article examines abortion as a part of a Greek contraceptive culture which has taken shape during the postwar period both in response, and in resistance to, a variety of macro- and micropolitical institutions and forces. During much of this period, pronatalist policies and discourses of both state and church combined to foreclose most medical contraceptive alternatives. In contrast, illegal abortion was a relatively safe, medicalized procedure widely practiced by doctors. Even after being legalized in 1980, female medical contraceptive methods continue to be rejected by the great majority of Greek women, and abortion and male methods of birth control remain the principal means of controlling fertility. The article focuses on the specific abortion practices and meanings of three generations of married women living in the city of Rhodes, capital of the Dodecanese Province of Greece's Eastern Aegean, and explores the ways in which they have been shaped by, and reflect, local cultural understandings of the body, health, sexuality, morality, motherhood and childhood, as well as micropolitical relations within the family.

Abortion, Illegal↗

PubMed1995

Flea species from dogs and cats in northern Greece: environmental and clinical implications.

Fleas were identified after being collected from 129 dogs and 38 cats of random breed, sex and age. All these animals, infested with fleas and admitted to the Clinic of Medicine of the Veterinary Faculty in Thessaloniki for routine procedures, were from different habitats and originated from various parts of northern Greece. Ctenocephalides canis was the most common species found on the dogs (71.3%). Conversely, its prevalence in the 14 cats was substantially lower (5.3%). Ctenocephalides felis was found on 97.4% of the cats and 40.3% of the dogs surveyed. Of the other flea species, with much lower prevalence, Pulex irritans (0.8%) and Xenopsylla cheopis (0.8%) were observed only on the dogs. Seventeen dogs (13.2%) and one cat (2.6%) had mixed infestations. Flea-associated dermatoses were observed in 26 dogs (20.2%) and four cats (10.5%). Flea-allergic dermatitis, with its typical manifestations, was seen in ten of the dogs (38.5%) with skin lesions. Three out of four flea-allergic cats presented miliary dermatitis and one symmetrical hypotrichosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Piroplasms of domestic animals in the Macedonia region of Greece. 2. Piroplasms of cattle.

A study was carried out on piroplasms of cattle in the Macedonia region of Greece. During 1984-1986, 602 serum samples were collected from cattle in 33 localities. Blood smears were also prepared from 50 of the animals in 13 localities. The indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test revealed that 41.4% of cattle sera were positive to Theileria orientalis, 2.0% to Theileria annulata, 21.6% to Babesia bovis, 15.2% to Babesia bigemina, 5.1% to Babesia major and 2.7% to Babesia divergens. Some of the positive titres were probably due to cross reactions. T. orientalis was widely distributed. T. annulata was limited to a small number of foci. B. bigemina and B. bovis, often present together, were widespread, whereas B. major was only present in a small number of localities. No convincing evidence of B. divergens infection was found. By examination of Giemsa stained blood smears T. orientalis, T. annulata and a Babesia sp. were detected.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Piroplasms of domestic animals in the Macedonia region of Greece. 3. Piroplasms of small ruminants.

A study was carried out on piroplasms of small ruminants in the Macedonia region of Greece. During 1984-1985, 721 serum samples were collected from sheep in 49 localities and 487 from goats in 43 localities. Blood smears were also prepared from 26 sheep and eight goats in 16 localities. The prevalence of positive IFA titres for sheep and goat sera, respectively, was: 24.6% and 0.6% for Theileria ovis, 52.1% and 36.4% for Babesia ovis, 10.5% and 4.2% for Babesia motasi, 12.6% and 6.6% for Babesia crassa. Many of the positive reactions, specially for the large Babesia species, B. motasi and B. crassa, probably resulted from cross-reactions and the presence of these two species is doubtful. Antibodies against B. ovis were found in animals from more than 90% of the localities. T. ovis was also common, but it was confined essentially to sheep. The examination of Giemsa stained blood smears revealed the presence of T. ovis and B. ovis in sheep, and Anaplasma ovis in a goat.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Ticks of domestic animals in the Macedonia region of Greece.

A study was carried out on ticks of domestic animals in the Macedonia region of Greece. During 1983-1986, 11,620 tick specimens, belonging to 18 species and subspecies, were collected from cattle, sheep, goats and dogs, in 64 localities throughout Macedonia. Rhipicephalus bursa, the most common tick, and Hyalomma marginatum marginatum occurred in all bioclimatic zones, as well as the two one-host ticks, Boophilus annulatus and H. detritum scupense, which were present in fewer localities. R. turanicus, R. sanguineus, Ixodes gibbosus and H. anatolicum excavatum occurred essentially in the mesomediterranean bioclimatic zone. I. ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus and Haemaphysalis ticks (Hm. inermis, Hm. punctata, Hm. sulcata, Hm. parva) were found frequently in the biotopes of the attenuated mesomediterranean and submediterranean bioclimates. Rhipicephalus adults and the two-host Hyalomma ticks were active in the spring-summer period. Ixodes spp., Haemaphysalis spp., D. marginatus, as well as H. detritum scupense and the immature stages of R. bursa appeared during autumn and winter. Hyalomma and Boophilus ticks fed mainly on cattle. R. sanguineus almost exclusively parasitized dogs, which were also the only hosts from which I. hexagonus has been collected. The infestations were generally weak or moderate. Few heavy infestations were observed on cattle, especially in autumn. Most of the tick species showed a strong preference for some particular sites on the vertebrate body. This predilection could vary according to the host species.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Epidemiological data on burn injuries in Greece: a statistical evaluation.

This is a statistical evaluation of 4114 burns treated in Greek Hospitals during 1986. The results are based on a questionnaire that was sent to all Greek hospitals. The distribution of burns in every health district, the causes of burns, the educational status and the occupation of burn victims are examined. The adequacy of the present burn care facilities in Greece and the future prospects for better burn care are also discussed.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed1980

Alcohol consumption and rates of alcoholism in Greece.

It appears that the incidence of alcoholism is relatively low in Greece, in spite of high consumption of alcohol and absence of restrictive measures for its use. This may be related to the traditional integration of alcohol use in the social ritualistic structures and to family and social support of susceptible individuals in the small Greek communities. The differences between urban and rural areas support these assumptions but should perhaps be taken as a danger signal. In order to establish effective measures of prevention, epidemiological studies are needed to confirm the trends and identify the risk factors.

Alcohol Drinking↗